A FORMBY cattle farmer has been presented with a lifetime achievement award to recognise his contribution to improving the Aberdeen Angus breed.

John Moores, CBE, of North Moss Farm Partnership (The Moss), is the first recipient of the Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society’s Hugh Watson Lifetime Achievement Award.

The award, named after one of the original founding fathers of the breed, has been commissioned to recognise and reward individuals who have significantly helped to improve the Aberdeen Angus breed throughout the years.

John, a past president of the society, founded his Moss herd of pedigree Aberdeen Angus in 1964 with wife Jane.

He was among the first breeders to import cattle from Canada, and one of the first to bring in bulls and later embryos from the US.

The Moss has sold cattle as foundation stock across Europe to the Republic of Ireland, Germany, Hungary, Portugal, and the Azores.

John is also responsible for breeding The Moss Mr Eshton D409, sold in the ring for 36,000 gns in 2006 – the fourth highest price for an Aberdeen Angus bull sold at auction in the UK.

Following the presentation at a private ceremony at Formby Hall Golf Hotel on February 29, his son Kevin said: “When he found out about the award he was absolutely delighted.

“He hasn’t been talking about anything else for weeks. He was touched to see everyone come down for the ceremony.”

Ron McHattie, chief executive of the Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society, said: “John has stuck by us through thick and thin. His commitment to the breed has helped it grow to what it is today. There are few people like John who had put so much in – he’s an innovator who saw a vision others didn’t.”

John was presented with the award by Aberdeen Angus society president Angus Stovold.